August 2008 Baccalaureate Graduates

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE AUGUST 2008 BACCALAUREATE GRADUATES 

Since prospective August baccalaureate graduates have not yet met their degree requirements for graduation by May 2008, they must meet stringent criteria in order to qualify for participation in the May 2008 commencement exercises.

The USD catalog statement reads as follows:

Seniors graduating in August may participate in the previous May ceremony, provided that:  1) they take their remaining courses in USD's Summer Session; and 2) they have registered (including payment) in USD's Summer Session for their remaining courses by May 1, and have given to the Registrar's Office written evidence of such completed registration.

If you expect to complete your degree during the summer, please be aware that as a potential August graduate, in order to qualify to participate in the May commencement ceremony you agree to complete all degree requirements for which you are pre-registered in USD’s Summer Session. If you withdraw from your summer course(s) after having participated in the May commencement, the tuition charges for your Summer courses will remain on your account, no money will be refunded to you, and any outstanding balance will remain due.

What does this mean for August 2008 baccalaureate graduates who wish to qualify for participation in the May 2008 Commencement?

1. Courses needed in Summer 2008 to complete degree work must be taken at the University of San Diego.  Exceptions to this policy may be approved by the student’s dean when there are extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control.  Unavailability of a needed course in USD's Summer Session will not be grounds for an exception to the policy about Commencement participation. August graduates who wish to take courses elsewhere (after procuring the appropriate waivers) may do so, but they may not participate in the May 2008 ceremony. NOTE:  Summer 2008 courses taken in USD's own Guadalajara and USD’s sponsored Summer Study Abroad programs will meet the requirement for courses taken at USD.
2. August 2008 graduates should register in Spring 2008 for any needed courses that are not being offered at USD in Summer 2008.  To facilitate the process of looking at the Spring 2008 and Summer 2008 courses together, a list of courses, dates, and times of USD Summer Session offerings can be obtained at the Summer Session Office, Founders 108 or the USD website. NOTE:  Students wishing to participate in the May 2008 Commencement may not complete their coursework with an Independent Study (499) during the summer.
3. In cases where financial aid is involved in atten­dance at USD's Summer Session, papers must be filed timely (by Friday, March 16, 2008) so that the request can be processed before May 1, 2008.  Summer applications will be available in the Financial Aid Office on or after February 1, 2008.
4. As noted in the catalog statement above, May 1, 2008, is a final deadline for completion of summer registration at USD for August graduates wishing to qualify for participation in the May ceremony.  August graduates may enroll in Summer Session after that day, but it will be too late for them to participate in the May 2008 Commencement ceremony.
5. Graduation invitations, caps and gowns will only be issued to August graduates who have registered and paid by May 1 in USD's Summer Session for all courses needed to complete the degree.